The single-tournament scoring record of 13 goals, set by Just Fontaine in 1958, has remained unbroken for decades, with no player exceeding eight goals in a World Cup since the 1970s. Tighter defensive structures, deeper squads, and more balanced competition across expanded fields have limited individual tallies, as evidenced by recent tournaments where leading scorers rarely surpass six or seven. Entering the 2026 edition, no active forward combines the form, minutes, and supporting cast needed to approach double digits, leaving the implied probability of 14 or more goals extremely low. Only an unprecedented hot streak by a young phenom on a deep run could shift the outcome before the final whistle.